Gastropods, a mollusk class including slugs and snails, represent an extraordinarily diverse and ecologically significant group of organisms featuring the largest class of invertebrates. They can be classified as aquatic and terrestrial animals having coiled shells, although some species have reduced or absent shells. Their unique body structure includes a muscular foot for locomotion, a visceral mass containing essential organs, and a distinct head region with sensory organs such as tentacles and eyes. They are used to secrete a complex mixture of glycoproteins, enzymes, peptides, mucus and other bioactive compounds, namely slime, which represents a tool to allow locomotion, protection, and interaction within different habitats. The biological activities of the slime have attracted considerable interest due to their diverse and potentially valuable properties ranging from defense mechanisms to potential therapeutic applications in wound healing, antimicrobial therapy, management of inflammation, and neurological disorders. This review aims at exploring the beneficial effects of snail and slug slime focusing, in particular, on the improvement of the biological processes underlying them. Continued exploration of the intricate components of these slimy secretions promises to discover new bioactive molecules with diverse applications in various scientific and industrial fields.

Graphical Abstract

中文翻译：

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腹足动物分泌物的生物活性：蜗牛和蛞蝓的粘液

腹足类动物是一种软体动物，包括蛞蝓和蜗牛，是一个极其多样化且具有重要生态意义的生物体群体，是无脊椎动物中最大的一类。它们可以被归类为具有卷曲壳的水生和陆生动物，尽管有些物种的壳减少或没有。它们独特的身体结构包括用于运动的肌肉发达的足部、包含重要器官的内脏团以及具有触手和眼睛等感觉器官的独特头部区域。它们被用来分泌糖蛋白、酶、肽、粘液和其他生物活性化合物的复杂混合物，即粘液，它是一种允许在不同栖息地内运动、保护和相互作用的工具。粘液的生物活性因其多样化且具有潜在价值的特性而引起了人们极大的兴趣，这些特性从防御机制到伤口愈合、抗菌治疗、炎症管理和神经系统疾病的潜在治疗应用。本综述旨在探索蜗牛和蛞蝓粘液的有益作用，特别关注其背后的生物过程的改善。继续探索这些粘稠分泌物的复杂成分有望发现在各个科学和工业领域具有多种应用的新生物活性分子。

图形概要